Show Us Your Cans and Feed A Good Cause

I’m no stranger to the ‘foodie financial slump’ that follows mindlessly blowing 95% of a fortnightly pay packet in less than a week on dining out.

It is best characterised by a state of panic where every tin of baked beans, spaghetti, fruit and vegetable within a 20km radius of the pantry is hoarded, tucked into its deepest corner and never seen again.

After helping to clear my Dad’s pantry in preparation for moving house, I realised that I was not alone in what might be better described as ‘nuke prep’. But I’ve seen enough episodes of Hoarders and Doomsday Preppers to realise that there is nothing healthy or necessary about a “collection” of food in your pantry that looks like it will eat you first.

Sweet dream or a beautiful nightmare?

If this sounds familiar, and in the ultimate battle of man vs. food there is a chance that the contents of your pantry might outlast you, then the time has come to stop feeding your addiction.

Instead, consider repurposing the evidence to help feed a worthwhile cause: a hungry person in need.

While you’re fretting over belly space for second helpings of all those Christmas leftovers, someone is fretting over whether or not they will be able to feed their family at all.

Call it ‘donating’ or ‘gifting’ – there is no better way to kick off the season of feasting and giving than filling the belly of someone who can’t afford to do so themselves. Now is the perfect time to relieve some pressure from the dip in your pantry shelves and make the most of those $1-a-can sales at Coles.

By donating unopened, non-perishable items such as baked beans, soups, biscuits, boxes of tea and festive treats to your nearest Foodbank cage, you can help to drive a campaign that, in 2014, collected enough food to provide 40 million meals to hungry families.

As always, I know what you’re thinking:

‘This sounds totally awesome and worthwhile. How and where can I donate my non-perishable goods to someone who really, really needs them?’

I also know that – like me – you are a lover of all things that require minimal effort with maximum benefit. And money.

So, I think that you will be very pleased to learn that the answers to all these questions could potentially score you $1500.

Step 1: Either clear your pantry of all those extra unopened, non-perishable items – OR – pick up a few extra items during your next grocery shop. Don’t dismiss items nearing an expiry date – Foodbank empty cages weekly basis, so they’ll be headed to a good home in no time at all.

Step 4: Deliver the goods and feel totally stoked about the amazing deed you have just performed for someone in need.

When it comes down to it, we’ve all been brought here through a love for food. We’re passionate about the joy and nourishment that it brings, so why not do something super special this Christmas and share some of that love around?